7 killed as bus carrying Bernard Mizeki Anglican pilgrims catches fire

ZIMSPHERE

HARARE – Seven people died and 14 others were injured when a bus carrying Anglican church pilgrims returning from the Bernard Mizeki Annual Festival in Marondera caught fire on Sunday night.

Image: The Manica Post 

A video of the incident showed the Passion Link bus, which was bound for Mutare, completely engulfed in flames with people screaming in the background.

Reverend Father Edwin Selemani of the Anglican Church said seven people died at the scene and 14 others had been transported to hospital, some having suffered burns and others fractures from jumping out of the bus. 

Selemani noted that four of the hospitalised individuals were in critical condition.

Over 20,000 Anglicans made the annual pilgrimage to Bernard Mizeki’s grave in Marondera. 

Mizeki, a Mozambique-born missionary, was murdered on June 18, 1896, by local spirit mediums, illustrating the conflict between traditional culture and Christian beliefs.